Make the Time

As of last week I have officially reached the 10-pounds-left-to-go mark. Victory is so close, I can almost taste it! Once I get to that point, I'm gonna keep this lifestyle going and see what happens! It feels great to know that I did this the right way, and that I can keep it up because I know how to eat right and exercise correctly. I've made healthy habits. It's not the weight itself; I see the weight as a reflection of my health, and especially my hard work.

I was watching The Biggest Loser finale tonight, thinking about how great they all looked, and I was seriously getting choked up just thinking about how much work goes in to changing your life like that. There are so many hurdles to get over: learning how to eat right, keeping the motivation to exercise, getting over emotional roadblocks, perfecting the balance in order to keep it maintainable, etc. It's just amazing to see other people change their lives like that. Many of them were on the verge of death, and now they are happy and healthy.

One excuse I used before, and that I hear a ton of now, is "I just don't have time to lose weight." True, it is much easier not to work out and pick up some fast food after work, but if you really want to change, you gotta make the time. Here are a few helpful tips:

1. Cook enough for leftovers. This happens to me whether I try or not. When you only have one person to cook for, plus a toddler that is hit-or-miss when it comes to meals, you end up with food to spare. Learn the proper way to freeze and reheat, or make just enough for two days so you don't get bored with it.
2. Plan time to work out. If you pencil in some time to work out and you require yourself to stick to that schedule you'll get it done. We all have more free time than we realize sometimes. You wouldn't let the day pass you by without going to work, getting dressed, or taking the kids to school, so make sure exercising is on your to-do list also.
3. Take the stairs. If you happen to work all day, plan a few activities to do at lunch. Walk up and down the stairs, take a walk around the building, or walk to a nearby restaurant for lunch. There are always a few ways to sneak in some exercise.
4. Buy healthy snacks and bring them with you. Out at school all day? Don't buy from the awful vending machines. Pack yourself some grapes, an orange, some carrot sticks, or even a few hard-boiled egg whites.
5. Package your own food. This one goes along with the previous tip. Sometimes it can be very time consuming to prepare a healthy snack and so we just grab whatever is the easiest when we are really hungry. When you first come home with your fruits and veggies, separate them into single-serving portions and place each portion in a ziplock bag. Then when you want a snack, it's easy to grab a little bag of something healthy.

How do you busy folks make the time to be healthy?

Roasted Ruby Tomatoes

This is a super quick and easy recipe to jazz up those veggies. These are especially great if you are just eating something simple like a chicken breast and want a little something special for your side. They also work well if you are cooking for company and you want to be healthy, but don't want to be boring.

WARNING: If you ever invite me to anything that requires me to bring food, I will bring either vegetables or dessert.

I'm a pretty basic person when I cook for myself. For the last couple nights I ate chicken breast that I had marinated in low-fat buttermilk, then seasoned and baked, with a salad on the side. I try to be a bit more exciting for other people though...

Roasted Ruby Tomatoes

1/2 lb cherry or grape tomatoes
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
garlic powder, salt, and pepper

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Combine tomatoes and olive oil in bowl. Toss to evenly coat tomatoes.
3. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste.
4. Transfer in a single layer to a small baking sheet. Bake for 6 to 9 minutes, or until some of the tomato skins begin to split.
5. Serve immediately.

It may not seem important to serve immediately, but it is! These smelled and tasted the best right out of the oven.

So what did I tell ya? Easy, right?!

More

I just can't get enough of this song. It's the perfect workout tune: hot beat and awesome lyrics. Check it out; you won't be disappointed.

Watch me as I dance under the spotlight

Listen to the people screaming out more and more

'Cause I create the feeling that keep 'em coming back

Yeah, I create the feeling that keep 'em coming back

So captivating when I get it on the floor



Know y'all been patiently waiting, I know you need me, I can feel it

I'm a beast, I'm an animal, I'm that monster in the mirror
The headliner, finisher, I'm the closer, winner

Best when under pressure, with seconds left I show up



If you really want more, scream it out louder

If you're on the floor, bring out the fire

And light it up, take it up higher

Gonna push it to the limit, give it more



If you really want more, scream it out louder

If you're on the floor, bring out the fire

And light it up, take it up higher

Gonna push it to the limit, give it more



Get up both your hands, I'm in the zone, tight, put 'em in the air

If you want more and more 'cause I can't wait to feel it

I go hard, can't stop but if I stop you just know that I'ma bring it back

Never quittin', don't believe in that



Know y'all been patiently waiting, I know you need me, I can feel it

I'm a beast, I'm an animal, I'm that monster in the mirror

The headliner, finisher, I'm the closer, winner

Best when under pressure, with seconds left I show up



If you really want more, scream it out louder

If you're on the floor, bring out the fire

And light it up, take it up higher

Gonna push it to the limit, give it more



If you really want more, scream it out louder

If you're on the floor, bring out the fire

And light it up, take it up higher

Gonna push it to the limit, give it more



Gonna push it to the limit, give it more

Gonna push it to the limit, give it more



If you really want more, scream it out louder

If you're on the floor, bring out the fire

And light it up, take it up higher

Gonna push it to the limit, give it more



If you really want more, scream it out louder

If you're on the floor, bring out the fire

And light it up, take it up higher

Gonna push it to the limit, give it more

Gonna push it to the limit, give it more